In order to improve from last season, Tennessee knows one big thing has to happen: the running game has to be better.

The Vols were ninth in the SEC in total offense and last in rushing. Tyler Bray threw for 1,849, but Tennessee can’t expect him to carry the load.

Tauren Poole could have an even better season running the ball behind a more experienced line. (AP photo)

“We definitely need the running game to win games,” senior tailback Tauren Poole told the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “We can’t rely only on Tyler’s little bitty arm to throw the ball every single play, even though he’s talented enough. We’re going to need to run the football.”

And Poole is the player to do it. He was sixth in the SEC with 1,034 rushing yards last season. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry, 79.5 per game and scored 11 times. He gained more than 100 yards against two of the SEC’s toughest run defenses in LSU and Alabama and had 162 against Oregon.

“He’s got good size and speed for his position. He was inconsistent last year, (but) he was productive as a whole,” Vols coach Derek Dooley told the Times Free Press. He had some games where he was remarkable. He had other games where it was hard on him. I think a lot of things go into that. It was his first year playing. He wants to do well so bad; he wants to perform so well. It took him a while to get settled into the position.”

The Vols started three freshmen—Ja’Wuan James, James Stone, Zach Fulton—on the offensive line last year and had just one returning starter. This season, they’ll have four returning starters who gained valuable experience last season.

“Last year they were very rough around the edges, still trying to figure themselves out,” defensive lineman Malik Jackson told the Times Free Press. “Playing with them from last year's practice and then this (spring), it’s just night and day. They know their calls; they communicate with each other a lot better. They’re going to be great.”